Thursday, May 25, 2017

USFWS recognizes group working to protect the St. Marks frosted flatwood salamander

The
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has recognized a group that is working
to increase the survival rate of frosted flatwood salamander larvae
in the St. Marks Wildlife Refuge.

The
St. Marks Frosted Flatwoods Salamander Research Team was recognized
with an Honor Award marking extraordinaryconservation
accomplishments in 2015 and 2016.

When
surveys revealed a precipitous decline in frosted flatwoods
salamanders on St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge andacross
the species’ range, staff from the refuge and the U.S. Geological
Survey took action with other partners and experts to address the
needs of the salamander.

The
work included inventorying
and monitoring population levels and developing a successful larval
headstart program.

The
methods developed for the program have successfully increased the
survival rate of larvae.

The
Team included partners and experts from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service’s Panama City Ecological Services Field Office, the
Apalachicola National Forest, The Nature Conservancy, Florida Fish
and Wildlife Conservation Commission and Eglin Air Force Base.